SOUTHAMPTON, U.K. -- At IBC (International BroadcastingConvention) 2003, TANDBERG Television will build on its leadership in the advanced encoding and video over DSL markets with the launch of a complete system designed to open up new low bit-rate video business opportunities for Telcos. On TANDBERG Television’s stand (1:461), visitors will be able to see a live system that combines products from a number of vendors, all of which are designed to bring the benefits of Windows Media 9 Series to DSL operators. Key components include very low bandwidth real-time encoding of turnaround and local channels, IP multicast of live TV, content capture and distribution, video on demand (VoD), EPG portal, set-top-boxes, live encryption and DRM.

“It is clear that Telcos see video-centric services as a key driver for revenue and customer retention in the future. However, the battle for bandwidth in video over DSL application creates a number of challenges and puts operators in a position of potential compromise regarding quality of video services, number of channels and even coverage/penetration. By deploying the bandwidth and operational benefits of our end-to-end Windows Media Audio and Video 9 based system, operators can realistically look to offer broadcast quality multichannel TV and on demand services on their deployed ADSL networks,” says Eric Cooney, President and CEO of TANDBERG Television.

The core of the new system is the TANDBERG EN5920 real-time hardware-encoding platform for Windows Media 9, a result of TANDBERG Television and Microsoft Corp‘s engineering collaboration, which provides the very lowest possible bit-rate available on the market today. Launched at NAB earlier this year, the EN5920 will have its IBC debut in Amsterdam this September. The EN5920 can be provided with the capability to transmit MPEG-2 video alongside the Windows Media 9 Series streams, making it ideal for operators to test and transition to the new encoding platform.

Tandberg Television